- 42 94. In the light of the above, the CPT once again calls on the Greek authorities to ensure that: - - the number of persons held at any time in any police and border guard station does not exceed the establishment’s capacity (calculated on the basis of 4 m² of living space per person); each detained person is provided with a mattress, a blanket, and bedding – all clean – and a means of rest, such as a plinth or a bed; all detained persons are provided with adequate and appropriate food free of charge, which includes at least one hot meal a day; all detained persons staying longer than 24 hours are provided with a basic sanitary kit, free of charge; cells are maintained in a decent state of cleanliness; cells, including sanitary facilities, are maintained in an adequate state of repair and offer both sufficient access to natural light and adequate artificial lighting; all detained persons staying longer than 24 hours are provided with access to hot water for the purpose of washing. Further, the CPT reiterates once again its recommendation that steps be taken to ensure that all persons detained for longer than 24 hours are offered access to outdoor exercise every day. b. Fylakio Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) 95. The CPT visited, for the first time, Fylakio RIC, which is the only RIC facility on the mainland61 and was operating under the First Reception Service of the Ministry of Migration Policy. In contrast to the RICs on the Aegean islands, the centre was functioning as a closed detention facility, guarded by the police. Foreign nationals were usually detained at the RIC for up to 25 days (see paragraph 73), until their reception and identification procedure had been completed.62 96. At the time of the visit, Fylakio RIC, which contains four wings (A-D), was accommodating 319 foreign nationals – 128 of whom were children (including 58 unaccompanied children) – for an official capacity of 240 places.63 For instance, 88 persons were accommodated in Wing D for a capacity of 60 beds. The capacity of the only RIC in the region was thus grossly insufficient to adequately respond to the significant increase in arrivals.64 Further, the management of the centre acknowledged that, mainly due to the lack of sufficient open reception facilities in mainland Greece, several foreign nationals, and particularly unaccompanied children, were required to stay in 61 62 63 64 The other RICs (so-called “hotspots”) have been established on the Aegean islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos. See the report on the CPT’s 2016 visits (CPT/Inf (2017) 25), paragraphs 11-13. During that period, foreign nationals were being subjected to medical examinations and a psycho-social screening, before being identified, recorded, and provided with support and information about their situation. They could also submit an application for international protection and have their first asylum interview at the Regional Asylum Service which was present in the centre. Unaccompanied children were mainly held in Wing A, families mostly in Wings B and C, and single men mainly in Wing D. While, according to UNHCR, more than 1,300 foreign nationals crossed the Evros border from Turkey to Greece in March 2018, the number increased to over 3,600 persons in April 2018.